Diagnosis and follow‐up in patients with optic neuritis by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx)

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of ocular imaging technologies, such as Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (GDx) in the diagnosis and follow‐up of optic neuritis. Methods: A total of 13 patients with optic neuritis and 13 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were included in this prospective, clinical study and followed up for six months. All of them underwent neurologic assessment and a complete ophthalmic examination that included visual acuity, colour vision (Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates), visual field, OCT and GDx. Results: In acute episode, there were significant differences in visual acuity, Ishihara colour test, visual field mean deviation (MD), either in anterior or posterior optic neuritis, compared with healthy eyes. Eyes with acute papillitis showed increased RNFL thickness measured by OCT in every retinal quadrant compared with healthy eyes, but differences were not statistically significant. Six months after the acute episode, visual acuity, colour test and visual field had improved but we observed RNFL thinning in eyes with optic neuritis compared with control eyes. Both the OCT and the GDx detected significant differences between the groups six months after the acute episode Conclusions: Structural analysis of the RNFL by means of OCT and GDx is useful in optic neuritis diagnosis and follow‐up. Optic neuritis, either anterior or posterior, causes a decrease in the RNFL thickness, which can be detected by OCT and GDx